At first, I thought the name sounded sort of like Pok Pok, the famous Portland Thai food restaurant which I know for blazing-hot street food and drinking vinegar. Pok Pok's food is delicious but makes me cry every time. But the food at Pop Pop is a bit more approachable, at least giving diners a choice between hot or not.
The menu isn't the Tolstoy-like book found at many Thai restaurants. Instead, under 30 or so items available. Pick from papaya salads (original, fresh prawn or salted crab), curries, basil-flecked green beans and noodle dishes. Most selections give you a choice of chicken, pork, prawns, tofu, and sometimes beef. Daily specials are written out on a blackboard above the cash register.
The interior is dark, with wood-plank walls and wooden tables and seating. A large fish tank at the far end of the restaurant contains unusual looking fish, including a bizarre, hinged-jaw ribbonlike relation to the arapaima, which I've seen in aquariums. They can grow as large as the fish tank. Maybe bigger. I'd like to state for the record that I really hope this happens. Because.
Cool Thai postcards also decorate bulletin-board areas.
My children love Pad Thai. Pop Pop's Pad Thai is flavored with tamarind, giving it a sweet tang.
"Red pork" is all over the menu, which our waiter explained meant barbecue pork. The anise-flavored Roasted Red Pork dish was served in a gingered gravy. Gravy is such an unpleasant word for a delicious sort of thing. The little dipping bowl of "chili sauce" was sweet-tangy-spicy and contained jalapenos. It wasn't hot but was flavorful.
My favorite dish was the Thai Style Omelet, which was reclining on a bed of perfectly-cooked rice, topped with cilantro. If visiting Pop Pop on Aurora with a toddler or younger kid, this would be the *perfect* item to order. My only complaint was that while the texture was great, it could've used a bit more flavor or kick. So I dipped the omelet pieces in the mystery sauce.
When we came in, at around five, about half of the dozen or so tables were filled. By the time we left, every seat was taken and a line was forming to pick up to-go food. We didn't order dessert, even though durian ice cream is on the menu and I was tempted to offer it to my kids who'd never tried durian before. Because I'm a nice mom like that.
We brought home leftovers. I ate my omelet with sweet chili sauce for breakfast. It was perfect, and Pop Pop is now on our short list of favorite Hwy 99 restaurants.
Pop Pop Thai Street Food
13242 Aurora Ave N #104, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone:(206) 695-2858
Pop Pop Hours:
| Monday | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Thursday | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Friday | 11:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Saturday | 12:00 – 9:00 pm |
| Sunday | 12:00 – 8:00 pm |
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